Dealers Guard Against Shingle Thieves

It's been a good year for thieves specializing in roofing shingles. Millions of dollars worth have been stolen nationwide-a sizeable increase from past years. In Texas alone, more than $4 million worth of shingles have been stolen this year.

"It's tremendously exasperating," said Barbara Douglas. executive v.p. of the Lumbermens Association of Texas, "especially for people that have been hit more than once. It's like hitting them when they're down, because the building economy is so slow."

To help stop the thieves, the association worked with Crimestoppers-a national organization that works off tips to solve crimes-to set up a specialized call center for thefts of roofing and other building materials.

Investigators believe some of the thieves are part of an organized operation that is stockpiling the materials in anticipation of hurricanes, tornadoes, and damaging storms that would heighten the demand for shingles.

"They do it to everybody. They don't leave anyone out," said Bill Schuch, security chief for ABC Supply. He said that shingle thieves have hit comDanv locations across the nation.

In July, security cameras caught masked thieves sawing through fences at the company's warehouse in Atlanta, Ga., then using the yard's forklift to load up a truck with $30,000 of shingles. Since then, the company has installed more securily cameras and fences and added GPS equipment to its vehicles.

The story is similar at Bradco Supply. In May, the company's warehouse in Fort Worth, Tx., was ransacked and 10 semi-trailers of shingles worth $120.000 were stolen. In August, more than $100,000 worth of shingles were stolen from a Bradco facility in Tulsa, Ok.

"It's almost like a chain of copycats at this point," said Charles Collins, regional operations manager. "They figured the game out and now they're targeting us."

Because of the robberies, Bradco now adds a unique splash of paint to the shingles' packaging to help police track down the stolen roofing material. While the addition has helped police, it does add to the company's operational costs.

Smaller companies worry that the costs of thefts and increased security could put them out of business. "How can a small lumberyard do that, especially in this economy?" asked Laddy Rejcek, a manager at Blazek Building Supply, which lost over $100,000 in shingles from robberies at its locations in Waxahachie and Ennis. Tx.

Ex-Worker Fingers Crooks

Tired of guilt and "sleepless nights," a former employee of E.C. Cottle Lumber, West Tisbury, Ma.,led police to a safe that was stolen from the company more than two years ago and dumped in nearby woods.

Kristen K. Brown, 22, who no longer works for the company, reportedly received $1,000 for leaving a window open so four local men could steal the safe.

All five have been arrested on charges of breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, breaking and entering into a depository (the safe), receiving stolen property, larceny over $250. and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Clerk Janet Johnson said there were four days worth of sales in the safe when it was stolen. She is assembling records to determine the exact amount, but said it was well above $ 10.000.

Maine Start-Up Vows to Do lts Best for Local Community

When a new Do It Best opens April 15 in Milo. Me.. owner Brian Grosse plans to donate a percentage of profits "to create some jobs and give back to the community."

Grosse said he decided to open the business after a fire destroyed a downtown area that included the city's only hardware store, Milo True Value. The new store will occupy the 12,000-sq. ft. first floor of a buildine that Grosse owns.

"I'm happy to see the building's going to be back in operation and occupied," said Grosse. "I want the building to be used."

In addition to hardware, the store will also offer housewares. sporting goods, and kayak rentals. A pellet stove fueled by Maine-manufactured pellets will heat the store, as well as customers who can sit at a nearby table and play board or card games.

Brett Moses will be general manager and two former Milo True Value employees were also hired. Gross offered to hire John Crossman, owner of the former True Value, as a consultant, but Crossman insisted on working as a volunteer.

Ainsworth Completes Cast Off of Non-Core Panel Mills

Ainsworth Lumber has completed the sale of "non-core" specialty plywood facilities, allowing the Vancouver, B.C.-based producer to concentrate on engineered wood products.

"In early 2009, we established a clear strategy of divesting non-core assets and dedicating our resources to our most profitable operations," said president/c.e.o. Rick Huff. He added that the firm is now "well positioned to take advantage of an eventual recovery in North American demand for engineered wood products."

Ainsworth sold its specialty plywood mill in Savona, B.C., and its veneer mill in Lillooet, B.C., to Aspen Planers. Merritt. B.C. Both mills had been closed since June.

Operations at the company's three OSB mills in Minnesota were permanently halted in January. The Bemidji property was sold to the The Idea Circle, which plans to develop a bioenergy park for emerging green businesses. Hill Biomass bought the Cook mill to produce biomass fuel products. The sale of the Grand Rapids property to an undisclosed buyer was expected to be completed in mid-December.

Countertops Inc., Eau Ctaire, Wi., purchased the former Merillat particleboard plant in Rapid City, S.D., and renamed it Dakota Panel.

Fiberon, New London, N.C., has broadened its distribution agreement with CertainTeed to include EverNew composite decking with PermaTech surface technology.

Simpson Strong-Tie's Steel

Strong-Wall shuctural shearwall is now code listed for use in two-storv constructrons applications.

LP Building Products, Nashville, Tn., has redesigned its website.

AZEK Building Products, Scranton, Pa., redesigned www.azek. com, incorporating a dealer locator and other interactive features.

Royal Building Products nas launched royalbuildingproducts.com.

Temple lnland's gypsum board products have been MAS certified as low-emitting materials.